Ex-CCTV reporter on trial for fraud
A FORMER China Central TV reporter stood trial this week accused of swindling 8.5 million yuan (US$1.4 million) from members of the public over a three-year period.
According to prosecutors at the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court, Zhao Jicheng, 34, embarked on a life of crime in 2010 after leaving the state broadcaster and joining a “cultural” company as an executive, the Beijing Times reported yesterday.
The court heard that Zhao masqueraded as a senior CCTV official or member of the Communist Party’s publicity department to dupe people into believing he could help them secure job promotions, complete household registrations or even find places at top schools for their children.
In one case, he swindled a victim out of 3.3 million yuan, the report said, without elaborating.
The court heard that in another case a woman surnamed Chen agreed to pay Zhao an undisclosed sum for helping to secure bail for her cousin, who had been jailed on corruption charges.
The cousin was granted bail in August 2012, but Chen later discovered that Zhao had played no part in the matter.
In court, Zhao said he was instrumental in the bail being granted and had paid an unnamed associate 700,000 yuan to facilitate it.
“I don’t know whether he did it or not, but her cousin was indeed released,” the defendant said in court.
Zhao said he later asked his associate to return 1.05 million yuan to Chen, the court heard.
The charges against the former reporter came to light in September last year after an alleged victim complained to the police, the report said, adding that he is accused of cheating about 20 people.
In court, Zhao said he used some of the money he was paid to bribe people who facilitated his clients’ requests and the rest on himself. Among his personal purchases was a 400,000 yuan Volvo car.
The court has yet to issue a verdict.
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